Ball and socket joint



0d. 2s, 1941.*` F, B, HALF-ORD. ETAL '2,260,283

BALL AND socxET JOINT l Filed oct. 14, 1938-. 2 vshleyetsf'sme1;-;

A3 2 A4 Fig-1 vl-"igZLy Inventors F23 /ffLFa/P Oct. 28, 1941. F. B.HALr-'oRD E-rAl.y 2,260,283

BALL AND SOCKET JOINT Filed Oct.. 14, 1938 4 i 2 Sheets-SheetI 2v Fig.A6. D3 D Fig. 7.

l by 3MB/91W@ nf iatented Cot. 28, 1941 BALL AND sooner JoIN'r FrankBernard Halford, Edgware, and Benjamin William Barlow, London, England,assig'nors to D. Napier & Son Limited, London, England, 'a company ofGreat Britain Application October 14, 1938, Serial No. 235,024 In GreatBritain October 26, 1937 14 claims.

This invention relates to ball and socket joints of the kind comprisinga socket having an annular part-spherical inner surface and a ballmember adapted to lie Within the socket and having an annularpart-spherical outer surface and a bore adapted to be engaged by a pin.

For the sake of convenience the axis of the annulus constituted by thepart-spherical surface of the ball member will be referred to as theaxis of the ball member while similarly the axis of the annulusconstituted by the part-spherical inner surface of the socket will bereferred to as the axis of the socket.

Such ball and socket joints are employed, for example, to connect asleeve valve to mechanism for imparting to it a combined oscillating andreciprocating movement and comprising a crank rotating about an axis atright angles to the axis of the sleeve valve and connected to the sleevevalve through a ball and socket joint of the kind in question. y In thiscase the socket may be formed or mounted in the sleeve valve while acrank pin engages the bore in the ball member or the socket may becarried or formed in the crank while the pin which engages the bore inthe ball member is mounted on the sleeve valve.

Hitherto in such joints, in order to provide for i assembly of thejoint, the ball member has comprised a hard metal skeleton which isinserted into the socket, the skeleton having a bore into which the pincan project, the space between the outer surface of the skeleton and thebore of the socket and the skeleton and a dummy pin being filled withwhite metal and the dummy pin subsequently removed to permit insertionof the pin of the apparatus with which the ball joint is to be used. Theoperation of white-metalling is diiilcult in practice as great care mustbe observed to ensure concentricity of the parts, good adhesion betweenthe white metal and the material of the ball and suitable Workingclearances between parts having relative motion. It has been found,moreover, that in some cases the white metal bearing surfaces thusproduced do not stand up satisfactorily to prolonged use under heavyload. .It has also been proposed to employ a socket member which isformed in two parts held together by bolts in such a way that anintegral ball member can be used. This construction is, however,cumbersome and adds inily for prolonged periods without excessive wearof the bearing surfaces.

'ro this end a bau and socket joint of the kind I referred to accordingto the present invention comprises a one-piece socket and an annularball member formed in two or more separable parts, the abutting oradjoining surfaces of which are disposed in planes parallel to the axisof the complete ball member. The socket and ball member are further sodimensioned and constructed that one ball. part can be inserted nrstinto the one-piece socket whereupon the other part or parts can beinserted by sliding the abutting faces thereof over one another to formthe complete ball member prior to insertion of the pin which, wheninserted, serves either directly or indirectly to maintain the parts ofthe ball member assembled. Thus the ball member can be formed throughoutof a hard bearing metal such as phosphor bronze as -was hithertoimpossible with a one-piece socket unless a considerable area of thebearing surface of the socket was machined away to permit insertion ofthe ball member into the socket. Alternatively each part of the ballmember may be coated on its part-spherical surface with white metal orlike bearing metal before the parts are inserted into the socket, and inthis case accurate concentricity of the parts and the provision ofsuitable working clearances and of oil grooves or passages when providedis easier than with the prior arrangement referred to in which aone-piece skeleton was inserted into the socket and white metal was thencast between the skeleton and the socket.

Preferably the annular ball member is formed in two part-annularcircumferential parts one of which can be inserted with its axis atright angles to that of the socket and then turned into its normalposition when it enables the other to be inserted similarly with itsaxis at right angles to that of the socket and turned into its normalposition to complete the ball member, whereupon the insertion of the pininto the bore of the ball member, which is formed by recesses in theadjacent faces of the twoI parts, maintains the two parts coaxial andtherefore prevents their relative displacement. vln such an arrangementeach part of the annular ball member conveniently constitutes one halfof thecircumference of the annulus but other arrangements may beemployed.

the part to be inserted second into the socket comprises less than halfthe circumference of the annulus andY can be inserted directly into itscorrect position relative to the first part through the open end of thesocket lwhen the rst part, after insertion, is turned in the socket sothat its axis lies at right angles to that of the socket with the gap toreceive the second part facing the` open end of the socket. In any casethe member may be formed to interlock in such a manner as to preventrelative displacement of these parts either in one direction only or inall directions in'plan'es parallel to the abutting faces.

Further, the two or more-parts of the ball may be restrained fromchatter by a spring circlip passing round a groove in their outercircumference or by an end plate or ring nut or a series of bolts ordowels at one or each end of the ball member serving to clamp thevarious parts of the ball together after assembly.

The ball member may be provided with oil passages passing from its boreto its outer surface with or without oil grooves formed in the surfaceoflits bore or in its outer surface or in the abutting surfaces lbetweenthe different parts of the ball or in two or more of these surfaces,while its bore may be adapted to engage the pin directly or may haveinserted therein a sleeve forming a bearing surface for the pin. Again,the socket may either be constituted by or connected to a part of one ofthe two members to be coupled together by the ball and socket joint.

The metal of which the ball member is made may vary but conveniently theball member is formed of'some such metal as phosphor bronze while thesocket is formed of steel or other `ferrous metal. One or more of theassociated parts may further be hardenedor plated to provide an improvedbearing surface and diminish wear.

The bore of the ball member and the surface' of the pin which engages itmay be cylindrical or of square or other cross-section.`

Thefollowing is a description by way of ex-v ample only of o'neconstruction according to the invention suitable, for example, for usein mechanisni for imparting a combined oscillating and reciprocatingmotion from a crank to a sleeveI valve. y v

A- number of constructions according to the invention are illustratedVby way of example in the accompanying drawings, in which abutting facesoiy the parts of the annular ballv I accorse tion two furthermodifications according to the l invention,

Figure 11 is a longitudinal section of a still further modificationaccording to the invention,

Figure 12 is a similar view to Figure 11 of another modication,

Figure 13 is an end elevation of the construction shown in Figure 12,and 1 Figures 14 and 15 show two additional modications.

In the construction shown in Figures 1 and 2, the flexible joint isemployed to connect a crank shaft A to a sleeve valve B to be operatedthereby, and to this end the crankshaft A is provided Figure'l is 'across-section showing one form 'l of exible'joint according to theinvention as applied 'to' mechanism for imparting a combined oscillatingand reciprocating movement to a sleeve valve,

Figure .2 is a section on the line 2',2 of Figure 1,

Figure 3 illustrates how the two parts of the ball member in theconstruction shown in Fig-v ures 1 and 2 may be inserted into thesocket.

Figures 4 and 5 show respectively in transverse and longitudinalcross-section two modications" of the construction shown in Figures 1and 2,

Figure 6 shows an alternative form of. flexible joint according to theinvention also as applied to driving mechanism for imparting acombined'4 oscillating v and reciprocating movement tol a sleeve valve,

Figure 'l is a section on the line -l of Figure 6,

Figure 8 shows a modication ofthe tion shown in Figures 1 and 2, y

Figures 9 and 10 show in transverse cross-secconstrucwith a crank A1 invwhich is formed a socket having an annular part-spherical surface A3.Disposed within the socket is a ball member C, C1 yhaving a cylindricalbore which engages a cylindrical pin B1 projecting from the sleeve B andan `annular part-spherical outer surface. As shown most clearly inFigure 2, the ball member comprises two separate parts C, C1 each ofhalf-annular form having an abutting face C2. While the abutting faces of the ball parts as shown in Fig. 2 actually lie in planes parallel tothe axis of the complete ball, the line of division between theassembled ball parts may be said to lie in a unitary plane whichcontains the axis,y

of the complete ballv member. rIfo assemble the ball member, thehalf-annular part C of the ball member is rst inserted into the socketwith its axis at right angles to that of the socket and is then broughtinto the position shown in Figure 3 whereupon the part C1 is slid intoposition within the socket in the direction of the arrow` to completethe ball member and this ball member is then rotated within the socketto bring the axis thereof into coincidence with the axis of the socketwhereupon the pin`B1 is inserted into the bore of the socket and thusmaintains the parts assembled.

Alternatively the part C may rst be inserted into the socket with itsaxis at right angles to that of the socket and then turned into itsnormal position when the other part C1 can be similarly inserted andturned into its normalposition whereupon insertion of the pin maintainsthe two parts'C and C1 coaxial.

In the construction illustrated the vcrankshaft ative movement betweenthe parts C, C1 in adirection at right angles to the axis of the ballmember while in the modication. illustrated in Figure 5 these abuttingfaces have interlocking engagement with shoulders C,5 which preventrelative movement between the parts C, C1 in a direction parallel to theaxis of the ball member.

In the construction-shown in Figures 6 and 'I the apparatus comprises acrankshaft D having a lcrank D1 thereon provided with a crank pin D2which engages a cylindrical bore in a ball member E, E1 having anannular part-spherical outer surface engaging the corresponding annularpartspherical inner surface of a socket F formed on a sleeve 'valve F1.'In this construction the part E of the ball member constitutes more thanhalf the circumference of this member and the part E1 thus constitutesless `than half this circumference, as shown in Figure 'Land the partsare assembled by iirst inserting the part E into the socket with itsaxis atright angles tothat of the ,socket and then' turning it aboutfitsaxis until the surface E2 to be engaged by the part E1 is' exposedthrough the open end of the socket. The part E1 'is then placed inposition and the ball f'; member as a whole is rocked so as to bringitsaxis coincident with that of the socket whereupon the pin D2 is'inserted intothe bore of the ba'll member.

secure by Letters Patent is: 1. A ball 'and socket joint comprising anannular one-piece socketl having an annular partv In this constructionalso `the crankshaft D is hollow and has its end closed by a diaphragmD3, lubricating oil being delivered from the interior of the crankshaftD through a hole D4- into the .interior of l the hollow crank pin D fromwhich it passes through one or more holes D5 to the cylindrical surface'ofthe crank pin D* and thence through holes E? in theballjmember to thepart-spherical surfaces.

Figure 8 illustrates a modification ofthe construction shown in Figuresl and 2 in which the pin B1, instead .of directly engaging the 44here intbefball member C,C1', engages a bushing B2 within this bore.v In `thisconstruction the method of assembly is the same as that described withreference. to Figure' 3 but the bushing 131I ii'rixiserted the bushing.

m the modification illustrated in rieure 9, 1 which is .shown by way ofexample as applied tothe construction shown infliguresl and 2, insteadof a pin B1 or Dof circular cross-section. a pin 133 o f squarecross-section lsoemployed and the bore in the two-part'ballmember C, C1'

is' correspondingly of square cross-section so that before insertion lofthe pinBl into' spherical inner surface, an annular ball member 'havingan annular part-spherical outer surface, and a pin adapted for insertioninto the bore of the ball member. the ball member comprising at leasttwo separable parts whose abutting 'faces are parallel to the axis ofthe ball member, each ball part constituting a circumferentialpart `ofthe annular outer surface of the ball, and the ball parts being arrangedand dimensioned with reference to the socket so that one ball part canbe inserted rst into the socket whereupon the other part or parts can beinserted to form the complete ball member' prior ,-to insertion of thepin into the bore.

.2. A ball andsocket ioint comprising an annular' one-piece sockethaving an annular part-N spherical inner surface, an annular ball memberhaving anannular part-spherical outer surface,v and a pin adapted forinsertion into the bore o f the ball member, the ball member comprisingat least two separable parts whose abutting faces areparallel to theaxis of the ball member, each ball part constituting a circumferentialpart of the annular outer surface of the ball, and the ball parts beingarranged andv dimensioned with reference to the -socket so that one ballpart can bel inserted rst inte the socket whereupon the other part. orparts can.y 'be inserted to form the complete ball member` prior toinsertion of the the pinBi lprevents relative rotation between the ballmember and the pin.

In'the construction of ball member shown in v'Ii'igure lmwhich may alsobe employed for example in the'construction shown in Figures 1 and 2.,theball member-'is also formed in three parts H, H1, H3 butin this casethe divisions between the parts, instead of being radial, are in theform of chords, as shown.

I- rigores 1115-iuustra various 'ways in' which the parts of a ballmember employed in `a joint according to the invention may be heldtogether when once assembled so that even when the pin is removed theywillA not be apt to come apart.` Thus, in Figure il, the ball member C.Cl is provided with an annular groove Ce in its circumference engaged bya spring ring or circlip J, the

cu-clip being completely housed within the groove.

,In the construction shown in Figures l2 and 13 the parts C, C1 whenassembled are `held together by end plates K secured to the ends of theparts of the ball member assembled.

3. A .ball and socket joint comprising an annular one-piece sockethaving an annular partspherical inner surface, an "annular ball memberhaving an annular part-'spherical outer surface and a pin adapted forinsertion into the bore of the ball member, the ball member comprisingat least two separable parts whose abutting faces are parallel to theaxis of the ball member, each4 ball part kconstituting a circumferentialpartof' the annular outer surface of the ball, the ball' parts beingarranged and dimensioned with reference to the socket so that one ballpart can be inserted rst into the socket whereupon the other' ballmember by bolts K1 which pass through the I Paris of this ball member.1.

' In the construction shown m' Figure' i4, the parts of the ball memberare maintained in their- -assembled position by a single plate L securedtov one end o'f the ballmember by screws L1 engaging the parts of thisball member. i

I n the construction shown in Figure'l the x'mrts C ,Cl of the ballmember areformed so as to provide at one end an externally screwthreadedhollow boss C" which is engaged by an internally screwthreaded ring M tohold the parts to tether,

part or parts can be inserted to form the com# plete ball member priorto insertion of the pin,

Vand means engaging the ends of the ball'member for connecting the partsthereof together.

4. A ball and socket -joint comprising an annular one-piece sockethaving an annular partspherlcal inner surface', an annular ball memberhaving an annular partspherical.outer surface,

a pin adapted for Iinsertion into the bore of the ball member, the ballmember comprising. at least two separable partswhose abutting faces areparallel to the axis of 'the ball member, each ball member constitutinga circumferential part of the annular outer surface of the ball, and theball parts being arranged and dimensioned with reference to the socketso that one ball part can be inserted flrstinto the socket whereupon theother part or parts can be' inserted to form the complete ball memberprior to insertion of the pin, and a plate secured to at least one endof the ball member and secured toeach of the parts thereof to maintainthese parts assembled.

5. A ball and socket joint comprising an annular one-piece socket havingan annular parte l sphericalinner surface, a ball member having an .thetwo parts coaxial .and therefore rmember is' member, the ball membercomprising at least two separable parts whose abuttingfaces are"parallel to the axis of the ball member, each ball memberoomprising atleast two separable parts whose abutting faces are parallel to the axisof the bali member, each ball part constituting `a member constitutinga. circumferentialpart of the annular outer surface of the ball, and theball parts being arranged and dimensioned with reference to the socketso that one ball part can be inserted ilrst into'the socket whereuponthe otherv part or partsV can be inserted to formthe complete ballmember prior to insertion of the; pin, and plates secured to the twoends of the ball member by bolts passing through each of the partsthereof to maintain these parts assembled.

6. A ball and socket joint comprising an annular one-piece socket havingan annular partspherical inner surface, an annular bowl membercircumferential Dart of the annular outer surface of the ball and one ofwhich canbe inserted first into thel socket whereupon the other part orparts can 'be inserted to form the complete ball, a pin rigidly securedto' e member to' be coupled to the crank `and slldinglyengaging the boreof the having an annular part-spherical outer surface and a pin adaptedfor insertion into the bore of the ball member andto have slidingengagement therewith. the bali member being formed in two parts whichhave abutting surfaces. lying'in planesball member, means for supplyinglubricatingoii through the crankshaft to the part-sphericalsurface ofthe socket, and holes in the parts of the ball member through whichlubricating oil' can owf from this part-spherical surface to the bore ofthe ball member. 12. The .combination with a crankshaft provided `with acrank and crank pin, of an annular ballmember the-bore of -which isengaged by the pin while its outer surface is of annular partparallel tothe axis of the complete ball member and each .ball part providinga'circumferential part ofthe annular outer surface of the ball,

the ball parts being arranged anddimensioned with reference to thesocket so that one part can be inserted with its axis at right angles tothat of the socket and then turned into its normal position and so thatthe other part han be inserted vinto the socket and slid over the onepart intov normal position to complete the ball member, whereupon theinsertion of the pin maintains prevents their relative displacement.

7. A ball and socket joint comprisingan annu llar one-piece sockethaving an annular partlspherical inner surface, an annular ball member.having an annular part-spherical outer surface 'and a pin adapted forinsertion into the bore of the ball member, the ball'member beingformedin two parts which have abutting surfaces lying in planes paralleltothe axis of the complete ball member and each ball part providing acircumferential part f the annular outer surface of the bau, the bailparte being arranged end `dimensioned withfreference to the ket so thatone serted nrst into the socket whereupon the other spherical form,4 aone-piece socket rigidly connected. to a part to be operated and havingan annular part-spherical surface engaged by the part-spherical surfaceof the ball member,` they ballv member comprising at least twoseparablel parts whose abutting faces are parallel to thei axis of theball member. each ball part consti\ tuting a circumferential part of theannular-'outer surface of'the ball one of which can be ind' part orparts can be inserted to form the'complete ball member prior to slidingthepin into the bore thereof, means for supplying lubricatingl oilthrough they crankshaft to the interior ofthe lcrank-pin, holes in thecrank pin through which this lubricating oil is fed to the cylindricalsurface thereof, and holes in the ball member through which lubricatingoil carr pass from thissurface to the partes'pherical surfaces.

13. A bali and socket joint comprising an annupart can be inserted withits axis at right angles to that of. the socket and then turned'aboutits axis until the' faces to be engaged'byy the other part lie in aplane which is -inclined to the axis` of the socket and so that theother'part can then f be moved'into position with its corresponding;surfaces 'moving along this inclined plane, the4 ball member as a wholethen being turnabie. l

' within theseeket se that its sans ii'aep ma11e1 tev the axisl of thesocket whereupon thepin 4can be inserted. A .i

8. A bail an'd socket Joint comprising the .-elef .ments set forth inclaim 6 in which each part of ,the annular ball membery conatitutes onehaltet* 11,*'rnebineaon with-a traumhaft lar one-piece socket having anannular part spherical inner surface, an annular ball member having anannular part-spherical outer surface. and -a lpin adapted for insertioninto the bore of the ball member, the ball member being divided into twoparts only having abutting plane faces which are parallel to thediallmember each ball part constituting a circumferential Vpart of the Iannular outer surface of the balhand the two ballparts being arranged(and Adiinensicvned in rela 'tion to the sock'e t so thatA one ballpart' can be inserted first inw the socket-whereupon 4the other ballpart can be insertedand' slid over tlie plane faces ofthe first partinto normal posi-y tion-completing the ball member.

j 14. A ball and socket joint comprising an annu'- spherical innersurface, an annular lbail member having an annular part-'sphericalouter, surface,

' and apin adapted for insertion into the bore of a crank thereon, ofsin-.annular one-piece 'partspherical socket formed in the orank, -an eball member having an 'l outer disposed in the -socket. f1

wf, the ball member, the ball member being divided f into two parte onlyalong a plane of division of the which contain the axis of the ball.

v `eachball part constituting a semi-cire prb. Off the annular outersurface of the ball, the ball parts arrangedy and 'dimension4FRANKiasmmanjHensema.

lar one-piece socket having an annular parted with reference te theeoexet :eine: f part 'een be inserted om mie the seeker '-whereuponthe.- other part can be inserted aud,- islid along theplane of divisionbetween the'ba'il vll'tllto aoilnal position completing. thebali

